Multicenter retrospective study on benign testicular tumors in children: save as much as you can please.

BACKGROUND: Testicular tumors (TT) are infrequent in pediatric patients, representing 1% of pediatric solid tumors; benign testicular tumors (BTT) are the most common. We present a multicenter study aiming to describe the incidence, histology and surgical technique of BTT, with special emphasis on which approach could present better outcomes. METHODS: The records of pediatric patients diagnosed with BTT between 2005 and 2020 from 8 centers in 5 different countries in Latin-America, were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty two BTTs were identified. 73% tumors presented as a testicular mass, and 97% underwent testicular ultrasound as the initial imaging study, all of them had findings suggestive of a benign tumor. 87% had preoperative tumor markers (AFP and BHCG). In 66%, an intraoperative biopsy was done and 98% of the intraoperative biopsies were concordant with the final pathology report. Tumorectomy was performed in 81% of patients and total orchiectomy in the remaining 19%. Six percentage of patients underwent a subsequent orchiectomy. Mean follow-up was 39 months (1-278 months) where no cases of atrophy were observed clinically or on ultrasound. Fertility was not evaluated in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Proper management of BTTs is essential to avoid unnecessary orchiectomies. Preoperative ultrasound associated with intraoperative biopsy seems accurate in identifying benign pathology, thus enabling conservative testicular surgery with safety margins. Based on this multicenter series, we suggest performing an intraoperative biopsy with subsequent tumorectomy preserving healthy testicular tissue in BTT.

Expression of Protein SOX9 in Biliary Atresia.

OBJECTIVES: Biliary atresia (BA) is still an enigmatic disease. Deeper knowledge of its pathophysiology could help develop better treatments. SOX9 regulates bile duct development, liver regeneration and fibrosis; therefore, it could be determinant in characterizing BA liver damage. Aim: To study if there is a SOX9 expression pattern in liver biopsies from BA patients. METHODS: Liver biopsies from BA patients (group BA), from age-matched infants without primary hepatic disease (group Control), and from patients with other liver conditions (group OLC) were compared. Expression of SOX9 was checked for: amount, intensity of immunoreaction, localization within ductular structures, perifibrotic epithelial cells, and lobular cells. The scores were added to create a scale from 0 to 11 that allowed group comparison. SOX9 Scale and liver survival were also looked for a correlation. RESULTS: All BA cases had a score >4, while all controls scored <4. OLC livers scored 1 to 8 (3.5 ±â€Š2.0) (P < 0.001 between all groups). A cut-off at 4 had 100% sensitivity and 88.24% specificity to differentiate BA from Controls and from OLC (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.9989 (95% confidence interval: 0.9964-1.000). Strong expression of SOX9 was observed mainly in the nuclei of proliferated ductules of portal spaces and fibrotic bridges. SOX9 Scale score could not be related to liver survival in this study. CONCLUSION: In BA livers, SOX9 is mainly expressed in reactive ductular epithelium, following a pattern significantly different from that seen in non-BA patients; thus, SOX9 Scale may have a role in the diagnosis of BA.

Esplenectomía Laparoscópica en el Hospital Pediátrico Baca Ortiz, estudio retrospectivo de los últimos 10 años / Laparoscopic splenectomy at Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital, a retrospective study of the last 10 years. Observational Study

Introducción: La esplenectomía es un tratamiento estandarizado en niños con trombocitopenia. El método de laparoscopía, en este tratamiento, minimiza los procesos post-operatorios y se ha difundido su aplicación en la comunidad científica. El objetivo del presente estudio es realizar una descripción de la casuística y utilidad de la esplenectomía laparoscópica en los niños con patología hematológica. Métodos: El presente estudio observacional, retrospectivo se realizó en el Hospital Pediátrico Baca Ortiz. Se revisaron expedientes clínicos de los últimos 10 años de pacientes con indicación de esplenectomía quirúrgica. Se analizan variables demográficas, clínicas y de resultados. Se utiliza estadística descriptiva. Resultados: Ingresaron al estudio 14 pacientes que tuvieron una esplenectomía quirúrgica vía laparoscópica. La mayoría de estos pacientes son del sexo femenino, con patologías hematológicas como esferocitosis y púrpura trombocitopénica idiopática (PTI). En el 50% se realizó colecistectomía además de esplenectomía. El tiempo quirúrgico varió de 60 a 120 minutos. Conclusiones: La esplenectomía laparoscópica es considerada una técnica compleja dentro de los procedimientos de laparoscopia, pero es ideal para los pacientes con patología hematológica, por lo que es la técnica de elección. Una ventaja de la esplenectomía laparoscópica es el menor tiempo de recuperación y hospitalización, con heridas quirúrgicas más pequeñas.

Introduction: Splenectomy is a standardized treatment in children with thrombocytopenia. The laparoscopic method, in this treatment, minimizes post-operative processes and its application has become widespread in the scientific community. The objective of this study is to describe the casuistry and usefulness of laparoscopic splenectomy in children with hematological pathology. Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted at Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital. Medical records of the last 10 years of patients with an indication for surgical splenectomy were reviewed. Demographic, clinical and outcome variables are analyzed. Descriptive statistics are used. Results: Fourteen patients who had a laparoscopic surgical splenectomy entered the study. Most of these patients are female, with hematological pathologies such as spherocytosis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In 50% a cholecystectomy was performed in addition to splenectomy. The surgical time ranged from 60 to 120 minutes. Conclusions: Laparoscopic splenectomy is considered a complex technique within laparoscopic procedures, but it is ideal for patients with hematological pathology, so it is the technique of choice. An advantage of laparoscopic splenectomy is the shorter recovery time and hospitalization, with smaller surgical wounds

Correlación de los hallazgos de anatomía patológica y la sobrevida en los pacientes con atresia de vias biliares en los últimos diez años / Correlation of pathology, anatomy findings and survival in patients with biliary atresia during the past ten years

La atresia de vías biliares es una colangiopatía obstructiva neonatal1 caracterizada por cambios obstructivos progresivos tanto de la vía intra como extra hepática. El objetivo de este estudio fue correlacionar los hallazgos de la biopsia hepática y la sobrevida de los pacientes de atresia de vías biliares desde el 2004 hasta el 2014 en los Hospitales Pediátrico Baca Ortiz y Metropolitano de Quito. Es un estudio transversal analítico, en el que se incluyeron a 11 pacientes pediátricos. Los resultados obtenidos revelan que el sexo masculino fue el más afectado con histopatología no favorable. El grupo de edad fue de 1 mes hasta 4 meses, predominó el tipo III de atresia de vías biliares. Se encontró que hay un patrón de atresia de vías biliares como fibrosis, concreciones biliares, y ductulitis que tiene una evolución favorable. Sin embargo sí se encuentra además de lo citado células gigantes, degeneración plumosa esto revelaría signos de patrón no favorable. El patrón de biopsia favorable fue más frecuente en el sexo femenino, con nivel de albumina de 3,6 g/dl, bilirrubinas de 8,2 mg/dl. En el patrón de biopsia no favorable el sexo masculino fue más afectado, con niveles promedio de albúmina de 2,8 g/dl y bilirrubinas de 10,2 mg/dl. Las pruebas de función hepática (ALT, AST, GGT) tuvieron más de 2 DS y no hubo relación con los patrones estudiados. Los pacientes sometidos al procedimiento de Kasai tuvieron complicaciones como la colangitis en el 63,8% de los casos, no relacionándose con el patrón de la biopsia hepática. La sobrevida fue del 63,6%

Bile duct atresia is a neonatal obstructive cholangiopathy1 characterize by progressive obstructive changes of both intra and extra hepatic pathways. The objective of this study was to correlate pathology, anatomy and survival in patients with biliary atresia during the period from 2004 to 2014 in the Pediatric Hospital Baca Ortiz and Metropolitano Hospital of Quito. This is a cohort longitudinal study. That includes 11 pediatrics patients whose cases met the inclusion criterion. Results show that males were more affected and they have an unfavorable histopalothogy. The age group was from 1 to 4 months and type III biliary atresia was predominant. It was found that there is a pattern of biliary atresia as fibrosis, concretions and ductulitis that have favorable evolution but if there are gigant cells, this indicates a poor prognosis. The favorable histopathological pattern was more frequent in females, with albumin level of 3.6g/dl, and bilirubin of 8.2mg/dl. Males were more frequently affected by an unfavorable patern. They presented an average albumin level of 2.8 g/dl, whith avarege level of albúmina 2,8g/dl and bilirubin of 10.2 mg/dl. Liver function tests (ALT, AST, GGT) had more than 2 SD and there was no relation to the patterns studied. The patients who were exposed to the Kasai procedure had complications such as cholangitis in 63.8%, not being related to the pattern of liver biopsy. Survival was 63.6%.